I think the Tacoma is iconic. It's hard to compare anything against it... BUT, I think Nissan knocked it out of the park with the Frontier design. They really revamped the tired Frontier that hadn't evolved alongside the Tacoma. I have no skin in the game, but I think the Pro 4X looks pretty damn good, especially the front
@@billsoderholm3125 Nissans have had horrible trannys in their sedans and suvs but the trucks are very good in my opinion. Also the engine and transmission are the same from the previous frontier starting in 2020 with the 3.8L V6 and 9 speed auto. people seem to love the reliability and value for the money on older models compared to a Toyotas price due to name.
I wouldnt hold my breath, the previous frontier 2005-2021 was t tough at all and had millions of issues from the engine and transmission. I had a 2019 at 9k the trans was replaced, at 20k the headgasket and trans was replaced, at 21k the trans needed to be replaced yet again but nissan refused i hired an attorney and recieved a large portion of my money back. Never will i ever endorse or purchase a nissan again.
@@Mr.Mikey.Holiday You must've bought a lemon or drove it like a maniac! Good friend of mine has 7 frontiers for his landscape estimators, all over 100k miles at this point and none of the problems you mention. He does regular maintenance like clockwork as well. I'm really digging my 2022 frontier after being a tacoma driver.
Well I just bought the new Frontier and after owning a 2021 Tacoma for a year I have zero regrets. It's a way quieter, smoother ride especially at highway speed. You truly feel the 32 hp difference. The 9 speed transmission is nice and smooth. The interior is built much better than the Tacoma. Cons....there is less cargo space in the frontier. At this moment can't think of any other cons but will update the post.
I test drove a Tacoma and the Frontier and the difference between the two was almost immediate. The Tacoma rode well but the transmission issues that have plagued the vehicle for years were noticeable immediately which was a turn off. Compared to the Frontier which was more comfortable and came with more features as standard, my decision was easy and I chose the Frontier. Haven’t regretted it for a second.
Here is one more factor, dealer markups. Today I checked our local Toyota dealer. They had an SR5 Access Cab with the sport package with an additional mark up of $9,995 + destination charge and a $200 doc fee. The Nissan dealer is selling at MSRP. It made the choice all too easy.
My Toyota dealer was the opposite... Bought a 2022 Taco SR with add-ons it was about $35k MSRP. Dealer only charged a $1k adjustment fee for local buyers. Absolutely love my Taco!
@@GaryKetchum808 I mean, Nissan has always cared. Several reviews state that Nissans have always stayed true 2 what they were. The 370Z was still a Z, and the Nissan GT-R was still a GT-R, and this is exemplified from a design perspective as well. If this isn’t what u meant by Nissan caring, then I would b glad 2 hear ur explanation of what u mean, but assuming that my understanding of what u r saying is correct, Nissan always cared. They just care more now than they did b4
@@mrsoisauce9017 Nissan is a garbage company. They don't take care of their customers and try to ignore all problems and don't take any responsibility.
People always complain about the drum brakes. Drum brakes are known to be so efficient, little to no maintenance needed compare to the disc brake. But both trucks looks good
«so efficient»? Dude, if that was the case, every car would have drum brakes all around. And maintenance? Changing drum shoes is a hassle. Changing disc pads is as easy as can be.
Toyota has left the drum brakes on Tacoma because they can go 75,000-100,000 miles before they need to be changed. They have no issues using disc brakes as they are on plenty of their vehicles. My issue with Tacoma is seating position. I hate how it feels like you are sitting flat on the floor. My 4runner does not have that seat setup. I will definitely be looking at Frontier or 2022 Tundra as my next vehicle.
@@82dupont Who cares about rear brakes longevity? If you can afford a Tacoma, you can afford an additional 300$ brake job or two during that same period.
Im buying a new Pro 4X as soon as I can find one. I had a SV Frontier that was a fantastic truck. The new one I like even better. Toyota makes fine trucks as well. Take care if them and both will give good service and high miles. For those saying Nissan lovers are mad because they cant afford a Tacoma..not to brag but I could buy any truck I want. Payload and towing are similar. My cousin had a 2010 Frontier with 335k on it when he sold it. Both trucks are reliable. Neither one is a bad choice.
Ive been driving Toyota 4x4 pickups since the 1980’s and drive a Tacoma now. In all those years they have served me perfectly up in northern Wisconsin, off road, in the woods and on ice and snow. I got over 300,000 miles out of all of them and honestly, had very few issues of any kind. It is extremely practical hard working truck to own.
Just bought the 2022 Nissan Frontier SV. Thought for sure I was going to be buying a Tacoma but the Nissan was much more comfortable, quieter ride especially on the highway, and got the better deal. Plus my dealer offered me a 10 year 150,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty. Hope I made a good choice. I really love driving my Frontier!
@Fear of God The lead Nissan design engineer on the 2022 Frontier explained the origin of the vents illustrated with a side-by-side comparison of the 2022 Frontier and 1990 Hardbody. The Silverado was not mentioned.
Why oh why nissan and toyota bring the real bad ass trucks they sell in MEXICO? Frontier and tacoma are old ass models back there! Under build and over price here in USA...
The frontier’s mechanics are not new and frame is older. It has been a very reliable truck for a while and I don’t see it changing. In fact the Tacoma has had its issues when the Frontier was problem free.
@@Michael-ur5qb You kind of reiterated my statement. Frontier by not changing that much in 17 years have less problems than Tacoma that changes more frequently. The electronic is the culprit of most problems, not mechanicals.
The only thing Nissan has redesigned is the interior and exterior looks. Same engine. Same Frame. New tranny sure but Jatco sucks and is unreliable. Frontier sucks. I'd go Tacoma, but prefer Ranger.
@@Pizza626 Transmission in the Frontier is the same 9 speed that the Titan Uses. It's a proven platform. It's not a Jatco CVT . I have 3 frontiers one 2006 with 233.000 2013 with 172.000 and the Wife's 2022 with under 500 miles. Also it is not the same Engine. 06 and 13 have 4.0 VQ 281 HP 2022 3,8 with 310 H/P Still a proven durable VQ Motor. That Nissan has made for years with all the bugs ironed out. I would never buy a Nissan car. However the Frontier is just as good as the Tacoma and way way more comfortable. Both great trucks and both have minor issues. Can't go wrong with either. IMO Frontier is a Better truck.
Friend- lemme borrow ur car mines in the shop Me - u drive stick? Friend - what's that?, doesn't matter I'm comming... I'm here. Me - it's got 3 petals Friend - shit.. what's this?
I got both. I swap out the manual for the slush box when I cruise on the highway. Easy. Only takes 18 hours. Ask your dealer they’ll sell you the auto for around 9k. You got all that pandemic money didn’t you? Did you get your free kayak and bike yet? The Fred campers are gone, but I hear Biden is going to reauthorize it.
If you think that’s an anti theft device, you’re clearly mistaken. It’s actually easier to smash the windows, smack the shifter to neutral, and roll it away. If the ebrake is on, snip the cable. Also, the rear brakes are only drums so, ooof. I love a manual, but this “anti theft” statement is getting old.
I bought a 2021 Tacoma TRD OR and never considered any of the rest because I have driven Toyota since 1983 and have not had an unreliable one yet. I drove my 1997 Tacoma 315,000 miles with nothing but oil changes and routine maintenance.
Test drove the Nissan Pro4x a week ago. MSRP 35k/37k, dealer had it marked at 47k... that was a turn off completely. Cabin seemed a bit on the smaller side with side pillars that are huge so the blind spot tech is needing here, only comes equipped with tilt steering, wasn't sure why telescoping steering wasn't added. Also read that all PRO 4x are delivered without tow hitch equipped which is listed as included. Overall I am still interested in this midsize truck when i can find one with a price that isn't marked up 10k above MSRP.
They are marked up because of the chip shortage. My local dealer is offering more than I paid for my 2018 Frontier SV but they just tack that onto the price of a new truck
Look up Gates Nissan in Richmond, Kentucky and ask for Devon, he's a nice sales man and tell him I recommended you! You get a good deal around what you are looking at.
Keep reading these reviews. It helps. I had a 2016 Desert Runner 4.0. It ran like a beast. The rear passenger areas are for smaller passengers. But I use it mainly for special tools . And you still have the bed and extender and tie downs.
I have the 2022 Frontier Pro 4X and love it. I had 2 previous SV 4x4 models and with the premium package, it has pretty much everything you can get. I think it drives better, it looks way better and is definitely higher up. The inside is nothing like the old ones and with winter coming, I love the heated seats and heated steering wheel in mine. It did cost a lot more than my previous Frontier but I did get most of what I paid back in trade. I also like the front camera and the 360 top view for parking, especially parallel parking.
@@gordillocuba1026 Not true at all. Nissan makes great trucks, the cars with the CVT's are another story... I'm on my second Frontier. 2nd only because I needed 4x4 and a crew cab so I traded in my 2015 SV king cab on my current truck, a 2019 Crew Cab SV 4x4 with the value truck package back in October of 2019. Both Frontiers have been trouble free and required nothing outside of routine maintenance. I love my Frontier. I worked my previous Frontier very hard as well. at the time I was a territory manager for a trim company and I had a ladder rack on my truck to carry trim material when I needed to... That truck got worked way harder than it should have, and it never missed a beat. I've also had two Xterras, also a bad ass, durable, reliable vehicle. I put a bit over 100,000 miles on my 1st gen before it was wrecked. My current Xterra I drove from South Carolina to Colorado, wheeled it for a week out in Colorado, then drove it back to SC. You can sit there and say Nissan makes garbage all you want... it won't make it true. My experience with them has been the exact opposite.
I wouldn't say no competition. They have the largest percentage of sales yes. But Ford has been catching up. They sold over 100k last year and well underway to increase that margin. Sure, Toyota sells double that but if they didn't have competition they would be making 350k/400k units a year. But there not. Because of competition. Third generation taco has its shares of problems. To say its like the older second gen and trucks of the past is a stretch. But I agree, the "perception" of reliability is real. Now as for performance, the 3.5 akison motor and 6 speed are a hot mess. Its a torque starved, gear searching, hard shifting pile. The seats are worse in class sit on your ass feet straight out. Its gutless, uncomfortable pile IMO. Test drove it twice and can't see why its so popular. Also don't throw this frontier out to pasture so quickly. There is ALLOT of interest. Frontier will take some sales away from toyota. That is 100 percent garannteed. Its just a matter of how much. Nissan also offering a boat load of accessories for this truck. If it puts out more then 100K a year I can assure your the after market will follow. So far I see much better gauge cluster, center stack completely destroys the taco, superior zero gravity seats, much better Daimler Benz 9 speed that has normal shift behaviors unlike that hot mess that toyota uses. Plus the front end looks allot nicer/more aggressive then the Tacoma's cheesy plastic bulgy nose. Nissan managed to make a nice looking truck that is also comfortable to sit in. Imagine that? Something Toyota should have done along time ago. The chopped roof line high floor sit on your ass design language needs to go already. How long has it been that way? 30 or 40 years most likely.
@@HiPlains1 the tacoma has a huge following and toyota as a company actually takes care of their customers unlike nissan. Anyway I have a 2016 trd off road access cab and a trd sport in double cab. I actually have absolutely no issues with the way it drives at all. The reason people buy a tacoma is for off road, reliability and resalevalue and Nissan just doesn't have that. Also trucks are slow and the frontier will be no exception in my eyes. Then again I grew up driving v8 mustangs, camaros and liter bikes so most cars feel slow to me anyway. But I guess if you drive like a moron it would probably feel slow and hunt for gears. Either way the tacoma has no competition and keep on hating it and talking crap about it but the numbers speak for them selves. Btw I actually also own a frontier that I use as my beater truck and they are good solid trucks but if you are buying them new the resale value of the tacoma is enough to purchase over the frontier. Look at your local dealers for comparisons on 2016, 2017 models and you can see a huge difference in price.. that's why I bought my frontier for super cheap and that's why it's my beater truck.
@@HiPlains1 also I'm not sure if you know this but toyotas have been back ordered for almost a year and most 2021 models are already gone. My friend just pickup up his after a 4 month wait. But guess what???? Ford has rangers so people are forced to buy that if the absolute need a midsize and can't wait
@@alexgarcia3900 Not hating the toyota brand fella. Just the taco. Like the 4 runner made in Japan with the old running gear. Loved my diesel Prado land cruiser in the Fiji Islands. Those have good torque and transmissions that have normal shift behaviors. Now that 6 speed on the taco is a different matter. Also drove the Hilux with the D4D turbo diesel with 5 speed. That's a great powertrain as well. I wish Toyota would put that engine in the taco. There was a guy that put one in the tacoma and its night and day difference for low end torque. Cost him 30 grand for the harness work but its street legal down in Texas. Now I won't argue they sell well and have great resale value. That alone does not make that horrible akison cycle 3.5 6 speed better. I test drove it twice. I don't need you to tell me what I already know. Like I said, I've owned the brand overseas. The third gen taco is not up to their standard for drivetrain. Not even remotely so. Now the same 3.5 in the highlander with the 8 speed is also much better. That's actually a good application for their 3.5.
Based on looks alone I agree with The Sketch Monkey especially on the front end. The grill on the Tacoma is a little bit oversized and overstyled whereas the front end of the Frontier is spot-on.
Yeah Nissan really did a better job on the front end. Gave it a better transmission then the toyota with just enough power. Plus the taco has the worst seating position in the segment. This frontier with the zero gravity seating will probably overtake the Ranger for comfort. That alone is why I would choose the Nissan over the taco. Plus the interior/center stack gauge cluster is top of class now. The tacoma mostly sells on past reputation/perception these days. This updated Frontier is going to make it a harder sell for Toyota using the god awful camry motor and torque starved 6 speed.
The Frontier looks like a Tacoma now but more modernized. I like it quite a lot. I went from never taking a second glance at the Frontier for years to now seriously trading my Tacoma in for one. It's that good! I'm looking forward to more safety tech, comfort, and a better engine/transmission. I'm sick of the slush box 6-speed automatic transmission and the lack of low-end power. It's such a slug when accelerating. Nissan introduced the 3.8 Liter V6 for the 2020 model year to work out the teething issues so by the time the all-new Frontier is out, the engine is already sorted and bug free. I like knowing it's now a proven vehicle and with 32 more horsepower and three extra gears in the transmission to boot!
I agree that 6 speed on the taco is a hot mess. Test drove it twice and could not commit to it. Still wondering why it sells over 200K units/year. Blows me away. Plus the seats on the taco are pretty terrible. Sit way too low. But its because of the design language of toyota chopping the top and raising the floor. But interestingly, Nissan achieved much of that "chopped" look and still has great zero gravity seats sitting higher. Much more comfy. This is what the taco should have been for the third gen. Plus Toyota should have never used the current powertrain. The 3.5 camry motor is not suitable for truck applications. Not even remotely so. Allot of toyota fans say the current tacoma will still rule and not lose market share. Lets just say your not the first toyota owner I've heard that is considering this new Nissan. Toyota probably a bit worried at this point because they are well over a year until they offer their 4th gen taco.
@Jim Gray I worked at a Toyota dealer for a year and have driven plenty of second-gen Tacomas with the 4.0 Liter. Honestly, they're more robust than the 3.5. They drive better than the third gens.
@Jim Gray The VQ 40 on the Nissan destroyed Toys 4 liter full stop. And it still does on the current camry motor akison cycle BS torque starved 6 speed. However, I have big hopes for the 4th gen toyota which will use the new Tundra platform. The 2015 is just too small/cramped sit on your ass feet straight out. I test drove one and I'd say its better power train but just a horrible ergonomics as it still is.
I was a service advisor at Nissan for many years...currently a service advisor at toyota for 2 years....I promise you that even if the tacoma looked like a brick....you want the tacoma.
Are you talking about ALL Nissan's or the Frontier in particular? The Frontier is pretty darn reliable from any metric I have seen. I had an '11 Taco 2.7 RC for 7 years and it was a great truck but my '20 Frontier is certainly a better truck.
I want with the Frontier, gunmetal SV. It was actually an easy decision after comparing both, plus the Honda Ridgeline. The list of reasons is longer than you'd think, including things like a hydraulic stabilized cab, for lack of a better term, the handling, both in and off road. The 9 speed and motor combination, I'm told us the same that has been in the Titan for years. The soft drop tail gate, and LED lights plus a 110 outlet in tbe bed. Plus like you in just liked the looks of the Frontier better. So I can speak as an owner of a 2022 Frontier that did shop around. Also I use my truck as truck, she's not a pavement princess.
I researched the Ridgleline like a crazy person for about two weeks and test drove a couple of them. Don't get me wrong they are really nice vehicles and have a comfortable car-like ride, nice interior, good gas mileage and decent looks but something just wasn't working for me. When I test drove the Frontier I realized what it was, as someone that has driven trucks for years, the Frontier is just so much more exciting to drive and it just looks badass. The AWD system on the Ridgeline is supposed to be pretty formidable but the Frontier gives me that sense of security and just feels like a tank compared to the Honda. Bought a 2022 Frontier SV yesterday
Having owned both Toyota and Nissan, and currently having a 2018 Tacoma Sport, I'll go with the Tacoma. I love the truck for many reasons, not the least of which is the toughness and dependability of it. I liked the Nissan also, until that dreaded sixty thousand mile or so mark, when things started to not hold up so well. The Tacoma has lots of extras on it that I like and I realize Nissan has also made improvements, it's not for me. Only my opinion from owning them both for years.
I'm with on you that but for me it's the reverse I've owned 2 Tacomas and they both just sucked they lacked power when pulling the same truck up a short hill ran nice but lacked power when needed
@@markjackson9950 I understand. I have known people who loved and hated whatever brand or brands. Like me personally, I'd never own any type of Stellantis vehicles, due to very bad experiences, but there are people who love them. That's the beauty of the choices we have. If I was looking for power and a truck for towing, I'd have opted for a different one for sure. I can just speak for myself and based on the popularity and resale of them, and reliability, I can't complain.
I have a 2015 frontier with a 118,000 miles and zero $ in repair bills only cost so far pm s, new set of tires at 92000 miles and front brakes at 110,000 miles.
There's 1000 people with zero problems aside from regular service intervals for every 1 guy who's had nothing but problems. It's usually some guy who picked up a rust bucket 05-09 that was never taken care of and then when shit hits the fan they blame the truck.
I currently own a 2021 Tacoma SR5, Ive also owned an older Frontier that only broke down on me once in 12 years of ownership with zero recalls. Ive taken the Tacoma on a 2000 mile trip pulling a 3500 lb camper, it pulled it ok, but was constantly down shifting on even the slightest incline revving at 4200rpm @ 65 mph, and only getting 10 mpg. The seats were not comfortable for me or my wife. Consequently I will be trading the Taco in on the new Frontier!
if you want to fix your tacoma, spend about 200-300 bucks on getting it tuned (world of difference with the hunting gears and MPG) then spend 200 bucks buying a set of desert does it's seat jackers, they fix that weird ass seating angle. Don't get me wrong I think these things should be made from the factory, but buying a brand new truck over say 500 bucks worth of fix seems silly to me.
That's why they give you the manual shift mode. Use it. Pop the shift knob toward you. It defaults to 4th gear. Go up or down from there depending on your needs. No more changing gears by the automatic at bad times. The automatic is fine on the flats. Not so good climbing or for engine braking coming down the hill.
While the current tacoma is a bit dated, Id be willing to bet that the resale value will be greater. I have a tacoma I bought new in 2002 with 50K miles and can probably sell it today close to what I paid for it.
close to retail prices is why people are buying new instead of used. Went to Toyota dealer looked at 4runners and a used one was selling for more than one fresh off the truck. I have no idea why.
Who will buy it though? I'm looking to buy used car for commuter. Both Honda and Toyota are very expensive even after 10 years. When I saw the price, I said to myself, man with that price, you can keep your car
Honestly, I like everything about the Tacoma more. It looks way better in my opinion, all the things he mentioned not liking about it are things I think improve it. While I don't want an over-styled truck, everything about the Frontier just seems bland to me...
If your on the fence between the Frontier and the Tacoma, go with the Tacoma. The Tacoma will be more reliable, better off-road, way more 3rd party accessories and most of all, insane resale values. I made the mistake of buying a new Titan vs Tundra and although it has been fairly reliable, it’s resale value is a fraction of the Tundra’s. The Tundra was slightly more money with less features at purchase but you get a lot more money back at the end.
I've had my Baja Storm color 22 Frontier for about a month now and am loving everything about it. I am coming from an 11 Frontier so the new tech is mind-boggling in comparison but I love it too. You didn't cover interiors but I can't find anything in it that I dislike. Totally agree about everything including the side view... Tacoma takes it, at least in the front end. Also, if you look at the lines on the tailgate of the Tacoma, one thing you didn't mention is that it stays consistent in styling with the grill, IMHO. Thanks for the video - very interesting points you made about design.
I spent a year deciding what midsize pickup to go with and ultimately I went with the 2022 Tacoma SR5 over the Nissan. I liked the looks of the Tacoma over the frontier and the proven reliability of Toyotas entire lineup really was the deciding factor. I owned a 2005 Xterra and it was plagued with issues. I’d rather go with a tried and true vehicle that may be a little dated over a first year run that may not outlast the payments.
Same with me. I had a 2006 xterra with a lot of issues even though I really liked it. The fuel sending unit went out just after the bumper to bumper warranty expired. The batteries didnt last or died easily and left me stranded several times. The transmission went out at 140k and I didnt feel like buying a new one since it was just a 2wd. And some other stuff i've forgotten about now.
They all had cars in the lot huh? Toyota never has cars in the lot or Ford but Nissan has alot. I wonder why Ford and Toyota don't have trucks on the lot, but Nissan does? weird questions sorry. Mitsubishi has a lot of cars on a lot too!
@@mattgeiger9988 because people aren't buying them...Nissan drug their own name through the dirt over the last 10-15 yrs and seem to be struggling to recover.
The new Frontier is a better truck internally and externally. Toyota will be updating the Taco soon, but the Frontier is definitely better in this case.
@@cuzz2895 The new Frontier has a better transmission, better engine, better interior. The engine and the 9 speed transmission are not new as they are being used in the current Frontier and the transmission is in both the Titan and the Pathfinder. Taco's are good, but are older. The new one is coming out, so we'll see if it's better than the Frontier. It's not fake news, it's facts.
Electrical issues with the frontier? Legitimately any Nissan I know or have owned has had Electrical issues. The last one i bought my wife was dead on the side of the road the day after I bought it. The PCM relay stuck closed causing it to draw the battery down when the vehicle was off which took out the Alternator aswell. They used that same $5 PCM relay on almost every vehicle in that generation we owned. I'm a Toyota guy and just picked up my 16th one but I think the quality is starting to go down along with Toyota being complacent here lately.
Tacoma looks more muscular and offroad ready. I think it's better to get bit overstyle design then just typical truck one with horizontal lines everywhere.
After having five Tacoma’s the last being a 2017 which in my opinion was a huge disappointment, I bought a 2022 Frontier pro 4x. The shifting problems, rear end howl, body cab mounts failing, I was ready for something different. The Nissan’s ride is superior, shifting is 100% better. Loving my new Nissan!
I had the howl on a 2019 trd sport Tacoma 6 speed manual. Had to have the whole rear diff assembly replaced it was under warranty thank GOD. Felt like I was getting rear ended when I stopped a few times. That’s what made me bring it in to the dealer. Also had a 2017 Tacoma Trd off road revved to 4-5k just to climb hills in cruise control. Horrible driving experience. Trans was always hunting something bad!
No doubt the new frontier is a fantastic looking truck, but I'll be sticking with my 2019 for a long time. I'm not a fan of direct injection, had a bad experience with my last vehicle, so I'm a little leary of that 3.8. I'd give it a few years to see how it performs. That being said I think nissan did a great job with the design
Nissan Frontiers all day. I owned a 15 Pro 4x and that truck did everything and had everything for almost 8k less than the Tacoma back then. It was just 32k. Sold it a month ago for 22k in a rush, and got sold by the dealer at 27k. So resale on these truck I will say still pretty good considering the lower initial cost. Got my a 22 Pro 4 x and it rides and feels like a big size truck (less room indoors) but how smooth and comfortable I compare it to a GMC Sierra I drive once.
It was time for me to part ways with my car and get a truck for both functionality and I wanted a new hobby (off-roading instead of track driving.) I HAD to have a manual so really the only option I have is the Tacoma. For me that’s fine because I’ve always wanted one anyway. Sure there’s the gladiator but I want something reliable too. I’m glad the frontier got an upgrade it’s been long overdue but they definitely went with the “hey can I copy your homework?” Approach. They look way too similar to me lol. Great deep dive analysis on your end though! Never would have thought so much into the details of the exterior itself lol
Love the Taco but the Frontier design choices were actually pulled from their own company lol. All of the stand out shit they did this year was theirs and copied by everyone else.
Frontier beats the Tacoma in every important head to head. You name it. Yes including reliability, those C-channel frames in the Tacoma rust and rot, unlike the Frontiers fully boxed frame, which is nuke proof. -Frontier 310HP > Tacoma 278HP -Frontier Torque 281 lb-ft >Tacoma 265 lb ft -Frontier Full Boxed Frame >Tacoma C-Channel Frame -Frontier Disc Brakes > Tacoma Drum Brakes Frontier has a premium interior, ride, transmission, seating, head room, materials/fit & finish, more safety features, better crash test, spray-in bed liner, the list goes on and on…not to mention styling, especially in the Pro-4X.
My dad owned a Tacoma for 16 years and I owned frontier for 10 years both are same capable in off road and I experienced both of the performance exactly the same truck for me, I think I would go for the frontier.
I have owned a 2004 Frontier XE 4x4 (bought new for $23K OTD), 2008 Titan SE 4x4, 2012 Frontier SV 4x4, I currently own a 2016 Frontier Pro-4X that I bought brand new ($31k OTD). I was shopping for the the Tacoma and Frontier in 2016 and for a comparable Tacoma TRD Off-Road, it was closer to $38K. While the Frontier Pro-4x was $31k OTD. I'm looking to trade it in for the new Frontier Pro-4X. I just love the new design and tech features. None of the trucks I owned had ever had any problems, just routine maintenance. The Nissan is definitely a better value than in my experience.
One thing I liked about the old frontier and Tacoma is that the hood would go down in the angle so you could see in front of you better. Now on both trucks it looks like the hoods are so huge that it really is hard to see in front. I like these trucks because they’re medium size but now they’re turning into the bigger models. If you ask me they ruined the Nissan frontier just looks like another version of the Titan.
Presently drive a 2017 Frontier Pro4X king cab, manual transmission. Great truck. Simple pleasures. It drives like a good truck, good power, nice ride. Getting up there mileage wise so I’m upgrading to a 2022 Tacoma, TRD off road. Why? It’s about $2000 cheaper off the lot and keeps me with my manual transmission. I suspect the manual transmission will compensate for power and shifting differences. And it’s a Toyota. New Frontier looks great but price and lack of configuration options is a turn off.
I love everything about the Tacoma except the seat to floor height, it just feels like riding in a go-kart. The reputation of reliability almost makes me want to overlook it though.
You nailed it. 6 yeard ago I purchased the Frontier because the seat was chair like. I don't mind that position for a sports car but not a truck. Taco looked better but Frontier was comfortable.
I have a 2018 Tacoma Trd and agree, the seating position had to change. I added some seat risers and all fixed!! Easy easy fix , I will take a Tacoma over a Frontier every day of the week. May have to pay a little more, but the Tacoma will hold its value guaranteed!! Mine has 45k on it and is worth almost what i paid for it. You wont get that out of the Nissan
I have a 2016 frontier pro 4x. And I love it. Was going to buy the Toyota just for the ground clearance over the Nissan. I think Nissan finally did something right by putting a 9 speed transmission in. Wish I could have it in my 2016.
@@fbi-fipo1618 The TRD Tacoma is basically the same though, just minor design differences. Both are very capable vehicles with great suspension and tuning. Both also come with upgraded interiors as well. The Pro 4X offers way more value in my opinion
With all the styling the new frontier has, Tacoma’s are still reliable and can surpassed the half million miles without taking it to the shop due to mechanical failures in the engine and drivetrain. I will still go for theTacoma.
Great video, I am seriously considering the Nissan, I've had an older Tacoma before and loved it, however the new ones are much heavier with no power added. Will drive both and figure it out!
A couple points he missed in the video.. Frontier...full boxed frame rails, higher seating position, flat undercarriage, metal sliding cleat tie downs Tacoma...C channel frame rails, seats on the floor, hanging drive train. Plastic sliding tie downs. Aftermarket support...Taco win by a country mile. I have an 05 Frontier and a good friend has an 06 Taco. We both have 250,000 trouble free miles.
The taco is a 6 year old design holding its own against a brand new truck, and the Nissan basically copied other truck designs. At least it looks better than the Titan
I have a 2nd Gen Taco TRD and it rocks and super reliable. I’m waiting on the 4th Gen Taco because I do not care for the 3.5 liter and personally still think the 4.0 liter is an overall better motor. The new Nissan has come nice styling but will it be reliable and retain its value? Time will tell….
I just traded in my 2016 Tacoma off road for the pro-4x with the premium package. I also test drive the sv. There is no comparison when it comes to power and the ride quality in the two. The Nissan feels like an f-150 and the suspension just floats. My Tacoma had hard seats and the suspension was very stiff so it was never really comfortable to drive. The Nissan accelerates to speed a lot quicker than the Tacoma as well. The premium package fender sound system sounds really good as well. Considering they gave me $30,000 for my trade in it was a done deal. There was about a $2000 markup but I don’t see that going away anytime soon.
It will be interesting to see if this version of the Frontier has that kind of value after 5 years. I suspect they won’t even though they are decently dependable. My experience with Nissan is they just don’t hold up as long as other options out there. Maybe they figured that part out this time.
@@adamfehr1994 yeah they aren’t new but discs are easier to work on. Replacing disc pads are super quick compared to drums. Either one would be fine to me but I find it funny that Toyota still has drums lol.
@@phpratap24 ya, they last longer and are proven, Just like you can order a new semi truck with drums on the rear axles still, though they’re mainly used for off-road trucks🤷🏼♂️
Frontier pricing has dramatically increased, the much lower price is what made the older Frontiers so desirable to me. I do have a 2019 Frontier SV midnight edition and love it. I bought it used with 12,000 miles on it for $28,000.The 2022 would cost at a minimum $10,000 more and I just don't see the point of spending that much more for a little bit nicer truck .The gas mileage IMO is one of the downsides to the Frontier. I'd also probably wait and let them work the kinks out on the new model before I bought one.
Is it really that hard to use common sense? The last frontier came out in like 2004. Which means after over a decade it’s incurred no cost to Nissan for keeping it around. They can sell it as a discounted price for that reason. A new vehicle costs hundred of millions to billions for development. How do you think they make that back? Same thing with the Ram and Ram classic. If you don’t want a new one then don’t buy it. Why you bitching and complaining that a BETTER product costs more?
I’d choose the Tacoma base on resale value and reliability, also it’s the top seller in it’s class. The Frontier lacks originality, like you said they copy everybody.
Not saying necessary that the frontier is the better truck, but nissan actually came out first with a lot of the tech and features that other truck companies use today...
This video focuses waaaaay too much on cosmetics. These days, cars are so unreliable that looks should be the least of your worries. Mechanical reliability should be by far everyone's number one priority in choosing a vehicle. With all the shortages going on, with no improvement in sight, when your car breaks you better hope someone has replacement parts, know how to fix it, and hope it doesn't cost thousands.
I 100% agree with u....that’s why I wanted the old style frontier before they redesigned it...me and I think most people should wait till it’s out a couple years to see if it will be as reliable like the older ones and not follow the trend of being grange like the newer Nissans have been...but if someone has the money to waste go ahead lol
I think the biggest point should be the average life of the vehicle. Tacos are just getting broke in at 150-200k. Yes Nissan is super reliable, my pathfinder has 300k, but Toyota midsize has them beat.
Pickup trucks are functional vehicles, you don't buy them based on style and you are making a mistake if that is your decision criteria. One of the most important characteristics of trucks is good ones last a long time. There are tons of 20+ year old Tacomas covering our roads. So you want to buy a truck from a carmaker that will still be in business 10 years from now and Nissan isn't one. While Toyota is the strongest vehicle maker in the world, Nissan had to merge to stave off collapse. Buying any Nissan today over the Toyota counterpart is a huge miscalculation by the uninformed.
Ok gramps...I could care less about the style but the man shows them lines off using photoshop like come on emmmmmmm...anyways on a serious note, they just have to be as reliable as the older frontiers and they probably become better than the 🌮 mas because of the fact they don’t have crazy markups and you can actually get one...or I am just a miscalculated southerner who knows 🤷♂️
@@mack7497 Buying a Nissan/Infiniti is a dangerous proposition. You don't want to risk a $30k+ investment to save a few bucks. I actually don't like new pickups - they don't make sense except for professionals and to show off. Gas is too expensive and not getting cheaper to use trucks as passenger vehicles, so I don't care for 4 door pickups with short beds. Pickup trucks are now so expensive you are afraid to use them as trucks and have to be really careful when you do. But used Toyota trucks can be bought for reasonable prices and they work as good as new trucks so that is what I recommend. I have a 97 T100 extended cab with the 6.5 foot bed. I only use it when I need a truck or we get feet of snow. Most of the time I drive my 2015 VW Sportwagen TDI. It averages 55 mpg doing 75 mph, goes 700 miles on its 13.5 gallon tank, cost me $220 in diesel for a 4000 mile summer vacation, and carries quite a bit. Two years ago they repaved the entire Alabama portion of I-65 and I it was so smooth I averaged 60 mpg doing 75 between Birmingham and Gulf Shores.
I just drove a new Tacoma on a 2,000 mile road trip and the transmission sucks. It constantly downshifted on the highway and could never find a smooth gear in the automatic . I think the engine is underpowered and the transmission is terrible. The gas mileage was bad since I had to drive with my foot on the gas paddle just to keep up with traffic. I would go with a full size truck, myself.
Wish I could say the same about mine. Had it for 5 years and I feel like I was in the shop more times than I was on the trails. It’s a hit or miss I guess.
The Frontier's design looks decent, but it's kinda all over the place and doesn't have is own old identity. It just looks like another truck. The Taco however, is recognizable anywhere and looks aggressive and beautiful at the same time
Taco for me! I was tempted with this new Frontier and after a test drive and a bit more RU-vid compare videos, I went for a new 2022 Tacoma TRD Sport. Going to be painful waiting 3-6 months though!
Love the interior and the dash of the Nissan. 32 more horsepower 9 speed transmission. I have a 2019 Toyota Tacoma 4X4 V6 and trust me its under powered.
I’ll go with the Tacoma. The way they have been redesigned including other models across the board tells me they are putting a lot of effort into their cars and worked out some small kinks.
2016 tacoma. 3 recalls and 2 campaigns..waiting for the campaign for the kazoo sound coming through the driver side window doing highway speeds. Same exact things they were having issues with on the last gen.
I owned 3 frontiers in past; 02 supercharged, 12 and a 14 both loaded. For the most part Reliable. I got tired of waiting for the redesigned model and in 17 i went with a Tundra Platinum (which is the best veh I’ve owned to date, still love it). That being said, seems like the Tacoma is the old guard now. For it to be a pretty close choice, can’t wait to see the new Taco
